Tuning-peg for stringed musical instruments



(No Model.)

G. .W. HUTCHINS'. TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 490,564i

Patented Jan. 24, 1893.

UNiTEn STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. HUTOHINS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TUNING-PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,564, dated January 24, 1893.

Application filed March 28,1892- Serial No. 426,648. (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. HUTCHINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield,Hampden county, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Tuning-Peg for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the construction of a tuning peg-The first part to the provision of a secure bearing, and facilities for adjusting the peg to, and releasing it from its bearingsthe second part to a provision for clearing the peg of the string by the act of withdrawing it from its seat,and the third to means for quickly-securing a string to the peg.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims, and is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I, is a side view of the peg in partial section combined with a part of an instrument seating it, shown in section. Fig. II, is a side view of the complete peg in the act of being withdrawn from its seat in the instrument to disengage the string from its end. Fig. III is a side view in partial section of the peg combined with the instrument, shown in partial section. Fig. IV, is a transverse section upon the dotted line mot Fig. II. Fig. V.is a transverse section upon the dotted line 1 y of Fig. IlI-andFig. VI. is a plan view of the smaller end of the peg with the end of a string secured thereto.

In the drawings, B is a metallic bushing, conical in its interior surface to correspond to a tapering peg G, and adapted to be fitted into the head of an instrument to retain its place without rotating, to which end one or more wings 12 upon an outside parallel to the interior surface. forms of the bushing a cone thimble which can be forced into a corresponding aperture in the wood D of a head to always keep its position. The larger end of the bushing B is provided with a cylindrical threaded part 01.

The peg 0 when seated in the bushing B, has its larger cone end project beyond the threaded end of the bushing, and the reduction of the cone of the peg to a concentric stem c leaves a shoulder g. thus extending beyond the bushing. The stem 6 is united to and forms part of the handle E, and collared upon the stem is a nut H threaded internally to engage with the threaded end d of the bushing and have its bottom wall come against the shoulder g, of the peg.

It will be seen that in operation the degree of friction required can be obtained quickly by a partial rotation of the nut, which can be done by the fingers of the hand grasping the handle part E of the peg, and if necessary Without releasing said handle; and it is also apparent that upon a few rotations of the nut H, to run it oif the bushing-the peg Will be released so that it can be withdrawn from its socket formed by the bushing.

A peg thus constructed is very strong to resist torsion as all of the parts for producing the friction are extraneous to the peg proper, which does not consequently have to be reduoed in strength by being cut away; andthe extended metal bearing causes a smooth revolution to the peg, and is not affected by hygrometric changes.

The smaller end of the peg I slot longitudinallyand radially by means of which a string can be quickly secured to the peg, almost by the sense of feeling alone, by bringing the string into a slot and giving the free end of the string a partial turn, or several turns around the peg before again bringing the string through a slot, to thus form ahitch perfectly securing the string.

In Fig. VI the end of a peg is shown having two such slots (1 and a string 2' is shown fastened to the peg by a quarter turn around it and a passage through the slots.

As shown in Fig. VI the smaller end of the bushing B is flush with the surface of the head of the instrument seating the bushing; so that when the peg O is withdrawn from the bushing the hard and clearly defined edge of the bushing catches the string and holds it while the peg is being pulled out-This is an advantage, as strings more particularly wire ones where kinked, are difficult to withdraw from the perforated keys in common use.

Now having described my invention, what I claim, is-

1. A tuning peg longitudinally slotted at its projecting end to adapt the string be be strnment and the peg, to present a hard surface to the string in the act of withdrawing 10 the peg, as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES XV. HUTOHINS.

Witnesses:

R. F. HYDE, JASON PERKINS. 

